Sauna vs. Hot Tub: Which One Will Make You Happy?

Having a sauna or hot tub at home is surely nice. However, with the amount of space and work each one needs, you will be often left to decide to choose only one. So, it will be best for you to consider the one you want by considering the pros and cons of both.

Similar Benefits of a Sauna and a Hot Tub

If you are currently on a weight-loss program, both are good choices. Just spending 20 minutes of your time in the sauna or hot tub or even a simple steam shower room can raise your metabolism. The increase is similar to having a long walk.

However, the weight you lose during your time in the sauna or hot tub is temporary. The weight loss is caused by dehydration that you will experience while taking a bath or sauna. Then, you will regain the weight after you rehydrate. Nonetheless, the metabolic rate that you will experience is more than enough to be considered beneficial to overall weight loss.

According to ASA (American Sleep Association), if you want to improve your sleep, using a sauna or a hot tub is a good choice. It will allow you to experience frequent deeper sleep. Be sure to take a good long soak in a hot tub or sauna before you sleep. Do note that deeper sleep lets your brain restore itself of its regular functions and process memories better. It does this because of the heat. The heat in a sauna or hot tub is like the heat you experience when you exercise for a while, which aids the brain’s sleep center.

Sauna Pros

When it comes to materials, a sauna is much cheaper to build. This is especially true if you are planning to build a traditional steam sauna.

It is also much easier to maintain a sauna. If the sauna is installed and used properly, it can be almost maintenance-free. You just need to make sure that it is clean when you go out and leave the door open when you are done. Letting air inside the sauna will dry it and prolong its life. On the other hand, making sure that you sit on a towel while soaking will prevent you from leaving perspiration marks or stains. If you opt to have an infrared sauna installed, maintenance will never be a problem for you.

Energy-wise, it is much more efficient. Basically, the amount of energy your sauna will consume depends on the make and model of the steam shower generator that you will install in it.

If you are planning to sell your house later, an indoor sauna increases your home’s value.

It also offers multiple health benefits. One of them is improving your immune system. Spending time in a sauna will allow you to have better circulation and improved lymphatic and immune system.

To achieve cleaner and fairer skin, you would want to have a sauna accessible at all times. Mostly, it happens because of massive perspiration. Aside from cleansing your skin, the toxins beneath it will be released. Unfortunately, hot tubs are not capable of providing this effect.

Sauna Cons

The biggest con in having a sauna is space and installation. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a vacant room or enough space in your house to install a sauna. However, if you don’t, you will need to extend your home or even use modular enclosure outside. Another problem with the installation is that you will need to build a foundation for it. Typically, one should rely on a professional to perform such preparation and installation.

If you opt for an outdoor sauna, things can get more complex. Expect that the installation cost of the sauna will go up a bit. If you truly want to have a sauna but do not have space or do not want to go through the hassle of building one, you can opt for a portable sauna instead.

Hot Tub Pros

Unless you are planning to build your own hot tub, installing one is easy. You can just buy a portable hot tub and place it inside your home. As long as you have space and the floor can withstand the combined weight of the tub, water, and people, you can just place it there and work with a little plumbing.

If you do not have enough space inside your home but still want to install the hot tub inside, time things can get difficult. One must prepare the floor around the hot tub to prevent water damage. Also, a regular drywalled room is not a recommended place for hot tub installation.

A few prefer putting a deck under it to place the pump and filter without working with the floor. Also, you can just place it outside for a nice outdoor hot bath, which is the typical type of installation.

A hot tub bath is definitely relaxing and comforting. It relieves a lot of stress and can ease your sore muscles. Aside from that, it is known to be capable of decreasing blood sugar levels.

Hot Tub Cons

The overall cost of having a hot tub can be very expensive. The unit or the tub itself will take up most of the cost involved. Depending on the availability of the space in your home, the expense of having a hot tub can easily go up.

There’s no effect on house resale value. Of course, this is a disadvantage if you are planning to resell your home. However, unlike a sauna, you can just sell the hot tub to get some quick cash.

Efficiency and sanitation are two important things that you should look out for when you own a hot tub. You should always check the water chemistry, and the water should be replaced from time to time. The filter for the spa should be always cleaned. Then, if the hot tub is indoors, it is important to ensure proper ventilation of the room where the hot tub is to prevent mildew and mold growth.